Tomorrow’s Static Topic: Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance
and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information,
Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery,
Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.

General Studies – 1

The Green New deal in discussion in USA seeks to address the issues around historical responsibility and the one inevitability of taking action against climate change. The article delves into the details of the deal and examines why it is so important.

Key demand of the question

The question expects us to explain about the green new deal, highlight why it is important in arriving at a solution to the climate crisis, discuss its impacts and talk about the way forward.

Directive word

Examine – When you are asked to examine, you have to probe deeper into the topic, get into details, and find out the causes or implications if any .

Structure of the answer

Introduction – Highlight about the severity of climate change problems and USA’s reluctance so far in driving the world towards a solution.

Body

Explain about the green new deal and the details of it – The Green New Deal “is a four-part programme for moving America quickly out of crisis into a secure, sustainable future”.Green New Deal audaciously aspires to make sweeping changes to the environment and economy and meet all of the U.S.’s power demand from clean, renewable and zero emission energy sources by 2030, while at the same time addressing racial and economic justice

Highlight why USA is important for climate negotiations and the setback that it gave to global action against climate change by withdrawing from the Paris accord

Thereafter, discuss about the implications of the green new deal and how it would provide an impetus to action against climate change

Conclusion – Give your view and discuss way forward.

Topic– Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent).

India is the 2nd largest producer of sugarcane in the world and despite that the woes of the sugarcane farmers in India are often in the news. This article gives an in-depth analysis of the issues faced by sugarcane farmers and also discusses the way forward.

Key demand of the question

The question expects us to discuss in detail the issues faced by sugarcane producers in the country and discuss solutions to their problem.

Directive word

Discuss – Here the discussion expects you to delve into the problems faced by sugarcane producers of the country and discuss ways to alleviate those problems.

Structure of the answer

Introduction – Highlight that India is the second largest sugarcane producing country in the world and despite that fact the woes of the sugarcane farmers are neverending.

Body

Discuss the issues faced by sugarcane farmers in the country

Non payment of arrears due to supply demand gap of sugarcane and ineffective policies of the government

Resource intensive nature of sugarcane and the problems that it leads to

Mill owners barely make profits, thanks to additional GST and transportation costs, among other woes etc

Discuss solutions tries by the government for upending the problems such as sugar subsidies, exporting excess production of sugar, production of ethanol from sugarcane to use in cars and buying excess sugar and hoarding it as buffer stock. Highlight that introduction of HYVs has further added to supply demand mismatch. Highlight that Brazil has successfully implemented ethanol production policies to effectively reduce oil import. But implementing the same in India poses a grave threat to groundwater levels, the depletion of which is already a grim ecological catastrophe to be fix.

Discuss some potential solutions

The Tuteja, Thorat, Nanda Kumar and Rangarajan committees have all contributed to sugarcane price policy in the country

General Studies – 2

The upcoming visit of Saudi crown prince to India has brought the focus on India’s bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia and the tightrope of bilateral relations that has had to navigate in West Asia. The article examine India Saudi relationship and helps us in preparing for the same.

Key demand of the question

The question expects us to discuss the contours of the bilateral relationship between India and Saudi Arabia and expects us to bring out the fine balancing act that India has had to maintain in its relationship with west Asian countries. The question expects us to discuss the issues and provide a way forward.

Directive word

Analyze – When asked to analyze, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary.

Structure of the answer

Introduction – Highlight the upcoming visit of MBS to India and how this has brought focus on India Saudi relationship.

Body

Discuss the contours of the bilateral relationship

Modi’s visit to Riyadh in 2016 gave a fillip to security and economic ties with Saudi Arabia. More recently, Modi met MBS on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina, and the latter spoke of Saudi investment in India’s national investment and infrastructure fund.

India, for its part, has refrained from even a hint of disapproval of Saudi Arabia disastrous military intervention in Yemen or its misguided attempts to isolate Qatar

Discuss the tight balancing act that India has had to navigate in West Asia in the context of its relationship with Saudi Arabia

India’s own tightrope with Iran, and Pakistan’s recent manoeuvrings with the Saudis create a tricky set of issues for New Delhi to navigate with the Saudis.

Discuss the close ties of Saudi Arabia with Pakistan and how saudi stand on terrorism in India has been an irritant

Highlight the complexities associated with India Iran Saudi triangle

Discuss the humanitarian crises and how India has had to maintain a stoic silence

Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.

Key demand of the question.

The question wants us to write in detail about the principles which should govern information sharing i.e how governments should regulate information sharing of citizens, customers in the increasingly digital world.

Structure of the answer

Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the increasing importance and generation, use of personal information in today’s world and mention the nature of entities holding and sharing such information.

Body-

Discuss in points about the principles which should govern information sharing. E.g

Such rules should provide a framework to ensure that personal information about living individuals is shared appropriately.

Be open and honest with the individual (and/or their family where appropriate) from the outset about why, what, how and with whom information will, or could be shared, and seek their agreement, unless it is unsafe or inappropriate to do so.

Seek advice, if you are in any doubt about sharing the information concerned, without disclosing the identity of the individual where possible.

Where possible, share information with consent, and where possible, respect the wishes of those who do not consent to having their information shared.

Consider safety and well-being etc.

Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.

Topic- Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information,

Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.

Key demand of the question.

The question wants us to write in detail about the issues and constraints faced in implementation of the RTI Act from the point of demand side as well as the supply side.

Structure of the answer

Introduction- write a few introductory lines about the RTI Act and mention how it has empowered citizens and when was it enacted and implemented.

Body-

Discuss the issues from the demand side. E.g

Low public awareness

Quality of awareness

Constraints faced in filing applications

Poor quality of information provided etc.

Discuss the issue from the supply side. E.g

Failure to provide information within 30 days

Inadequate trained PIOs and First Appellate Authorities

Obsolete record management Guidelines etc.

Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.

Topic– Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information,

Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.

Key demand of the question.

The question wants us to write in detail about the recommendations that we have for improving the working of the RTI Act and how accountability can be improved and what roles need to be made clear.

Structure of the answer

Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the RTI act and how it has increased accountability of the government and the bureaucracy and new roles it has created.

Body-

Discuss the measures that need to be taken to enhance the accountability and clarity in role under the RTI Act. E.g

Creation of RTI Implementation Cell by appropriate Governments.

Strengthening implementation set-up at Public Authority

Annual self assessment by Nodal Departments

Conduct branding and promotion campaigns to educate the citizens about the use of RTI Act in order to increase citizen involvement in the decision making process

Alternative Channels for submission of RTI requests etc.

Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.

Topic– Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information,

Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.

Key demand of the question.

The question wants us to write in detail about the key stakeholders in implementation of the RTI Act and define in detail the role played by them.

Structure of the answer

Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the RTI Act. e.g mention the huge role played by the RTI Act in giving the citizens of the country access to public information and empowering them.

Body-

DIscuss the role played by the key stakeholders. E.g

Civil Society Organizations.

enhancing the reach and awareness of RTI among the masses. I

it is mostly with the support of the social activists and Civil Society Organizations that a person in a village is able to use the RTI Act for ensuring his basic rights.

However given the geographical size & population, the reach of Civil Society Organizations and social activists is limited.

contribution towards training of PIOs and AAs and made them aware of their roles and responsibilities under the RTI Act. Media

Media

It has played an important role in generating awareness at a mass scale.

While there has been no major media campaign for promoting the usage of RTI Act, nonetheless the awareness on the Act has been generated through news articles based on RTI investigation.

Journalists at times have played a dual role – as the users of RTI Act and as watchdogs, monitoring and scrutinizing the implementation of the Act.

Central Government

Basic institutional structure/processes has been set up as per the RTI act requirement

Department of Personnel & Training has been made the Nodal Department for the RTI implementation at the Central level.

State governments.

Various State Governments had already enacted laws for access to information in some form or the other,

some State Governments have taken innovative initiatives in line with the spirit of the Act. The key initiatives are: – Jankari Call Centre, Government of Bihar etc.

Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.

The question expects us to highlight the pros and cons of making code of ethics legally enforceable for ensuring probity in public life. Finally we need to provide our fair and balanced opinion and discuss way forward.

Directive word

Critically examine – When you are asked to examine, you have to probe deeper into the topic, get into details, and find out the causes or implications if any . When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, all you need to do is look at the good and bad of something and give a fair judgement.

Introduction – explain about what is meant by code of ethics – Code of ethics represents certain values and norms that standardise one’s behaviour in different aspects of life. It leads to morality in actions and thus ensures fairness and justice to all.

Body

Explain why making code of ethics legally enforceable would be beneficial by highlighting what kind of situation can be avoided

Prevalence of corruption

Lack of probity in public life

Horse trading, defections often show lack of integrity and organizational ethics. Officials taking prejudiced decisions or favouring a ideology while discharging official duties

Discuss the relevance of code of ethics

It helps one in situations of dilemma. One may follow the code and function ethically.

Sets benchmark for appropriate behavior. Provides a framework for reference in case discretionary powers are to be used.

The relevance is more in present society where values and ethics are on decline either seemingly because of greater awareness or in reality

Discuss the limitations

A law will have limited utility, improvement of morals is required

Add to litigation

Not possible to define everything in a code, loopholes will be there etc

Conclusion – give your view and discuss way forward by talking about the recommendations of 2nd ARC

NOTE:

We are giving hints for each question. Please use your creativity and originality to come up with answers that are unique to you. But do so without deviating from core demand of each question. Ultimately you should use your reason and judgement to write your own answer.